Steady size distributions for cells in one-dimensional plant tissues (Q1180351)

The authors consider a population of cells growing deterministically and dividing without mortality. Both the size at which the cells divide and the proportions into which they divide are described by probability density functions but only the case where the population has reached a steady size distribution is studied. The emphasis on one-dimensional plant tissues is reflected in the important assumption that the growth rate is proportional to current cell size but may vary with time. The authors derive expressions for the steady size/birth-size and size/age distributions in terms of the cell birth-size distribution that can be found as the principal eigenfunction of a Fredholm integral operator. Using analytical techniques, these distributions are found in some special cases and in more realistic cases a numerical iteration technique can be used. A thorough discussion of the assumptions used and the conclusions derived is given.